In the modern world, where success is measured by external achievements, true strength lies in a deep understanding of one’s essence.

Embracing Inner Truth: Awakening to Divine Humility

In the modern world, where success is measured by external achievements, true strength lies in a deep understanding of one’s essence. The Apostle Paul reminds us that attachment to the worldly, the pursuit of glory and success, hinders us from looking into the depths of our soul and discovering genuine truth. Only by freeing ourselves from imposed expectations and societal standards can we unlock our inner reserves and recognize our need for God’s grace. The Apostle illustrates this path through his personal acknowledgment of his weaknesses, showing that true dignity and strength do not belong to a person in themselves—they are gifts from above when one becomes aware of his vulnerability and begins to live in the light of inner truth. Thus, renouncing worldly attachments and embracing sincere self-knowledge become the keys to revealing our profound nature, enabling each of us to become bearers of true truth and to transform our lives from within.

How should one interpret the Apostle Paul’s words that a person who does not see the truth within himself is not a representative of truth, and how does this affect our understanding of self-consciousness?

Paul’s words can be understood as an indication that true self-knowledge goes beyond external appearances and worldly achievements. A person who is bound to the routines of everyday life, preoccupied with glory, external success, or education, is unable to delve into the depths of his essence and, therefore, cannot claim the true manifestation of truth within himself. In other words, if an individual fails to recognize his inner weaknesses, does not acknowledge his dependence on God’s grace, and does not free himself from worldly attachments, he is limited in his ability to comprehend and live out the truth that resides within him.

For example, as noted in one of the sources, “Truly, nothing so greatly prevents a person from knowing himself as clinging to the everyday; and conversely, nothing so much encourages him to cling to worldly affairs as ignorance of himself. … And the one who knows himself through that will succeed in all other virtues” (source: link txt). This emphasizes that the pursuit of external glory and attachment to worldly matters hinder a true understanding of one’s nature, whereas humility and the renunciation of the temporary facilitate self-knowledge.

At the same time, Paul demonstrates a personal example when he speaks of his own foolishness and weaknesses, thereby showing that any virtues we possess are not our own but are gifts from God. As he states in another source, “The Apostle Paul himself spoke of his foolishness to show that if there is anything to boast about, it is only that which belongs to you. In truth, the virtues we have are not our own. God created us in such a way…” (source: link txt); it becomes evident that true strength and dignity are born from the recognition of our frailty and dependence on God, not from self-exaltation or pride.

Thus, to truly understand our self-consciousness, it is important to recognize and explore our inner truth by freeing ourselves from the allure of worldly attachments and personal grandeur. Only through such profound self-knowledge can a person become a true representative of truth, open to the transformative work of God’s grace that changes life from within.